tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83038262339849348152024-03-05T03:08:16.571-08:00Mother Earth.mother: verb [ trans. ]
1. to look after kindly and protectively, with care and affectionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-8768617621343437942010-11-26T18:32:00.000-08:002010-11-26T18:32:06.950-08:00"Earth"Yesterday before Thanksgiving dinner, we all wrote down a few things we were thankful for on small tags then hung them from a "tree." The first thing my seven-year-old wrote was "Earth." I was thankful for that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-44670442819751597672010-11-05T15:20:00.000-07:002010-11-06T07:39:29.975-07:00Oh Poop! Plastic Bags Everywhere<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">We have a new baby! She's an eight-week old golden retriever, Bella Blue. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zY4kKncLJFYw_LUqVyO4ng3oA8MBG5RegEzdYR8w4jPlqLPLH-OGEx-zwYNIbh8x_MsMf7hPpbkSnhxAIGnXIYa8_ALU-vbGdr0E7PMK8ENBndtz62GvvfmrSauSb850-Ji2AHyuA26F/s1600/DSC_0585_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zY4kKncLJFYw_LUqVyO4ng3oA8MBG5RegEzdYR8w4jPlqLPLH-OGEx-zwYNIbh8x_MsMf7hPpbkSnhxAIGnXIYa8_ALU-vbGdr0E7PMK8ENBndtz62GvvfmrSauSb850-Ji2AHyuA26F/s200/DSC_0585_3.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Our Bella Blue</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">She’s named after the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>beautiful blue</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">planet that I love so dearly. </span>Since I’m a mother and my job is to care for what I love, I try my best to keep “disposable plastic” bags from choking and killing the beautiful blue ocean/sky/planet (the dog too!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Semibold'; font-size: 24pt;">oxymoron</span><span style="font-family: 'ヒラギノ明朝 Pro W3'; font-size: 16pt;"> |ˌ</span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Semibold'; font-size: 16pt;">ä</span><span style="font-family: 'ヒラギノ明朝 Pro W3'; font-size: 16pt;">ks</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">ə</span><span style="font-family: 'ヒラギノ明朝 Pro W3'; font-size: 16pt;">ˈm</span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Semibold'; font-size: 16pt;">ô</span><span style="font-family: 'ヒラギノ明朝 Pro W3'; font-size: 16pt;">rˌ</span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Semibold'; font-size: 16pt;">ä</span><span style="font-family: 'ヒラギノ明朝 Pro W3'; font-size: 16pt;">n| </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Semibold'; font-size: 16pt;"> a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disposable plastic</i> bags)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Semibold'; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">“Disposable plastic” epitomizes the term oxymoron. (I’m not even going to make a “moron” joke here. Too easy.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Disposable plastic bags can’t actually be disposed of.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">They can't be recycled except in a few, rare plants because they jam up most equipment. Since they’re made of plastic they will never entirely decompose, only break down into smaller, more lethal particles. Remember that aside from the minute percentage that has been incinerated (creating even more toxic fumes), EVERY ounce of plastic ever created still exists today.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">So, over the past few years I’ve accumulated quite a collection of reusable shopping bags. They’ve come a long way since the hideous canvas totes that my teacher friends and I used to haul homework around during the 90s. I think I have one of every design ever issued by Whole Foods. To be honest, I’ve been a little smug about the idea that I haven’t taken a plastic bag from a store in months. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">When I forget my reusable bags, I just put all the groceries back into the cart and transfer them into the bags that are always waiting in the trunk or at home. I tell myself that the hassle will help me remember the next time, although it’s amazing how often I forget. But I don’t take the plastic bags that the clerks so desperately want to give me. Ever.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Until… Recently, I forgot to take the beloved bags into Target, and I (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gasp!)</i> took a few plastic bags from the clerk, saying sheepishly, “Well, I have a new puppy at home, so I do need some poop bags.” I thought of conversations I’ve had with friends about how they only take plastic grocery bags because they have a dog. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I haven’t regretted NOT saying “no” this much since college. ;-) My smug-streak came to a screeching halt. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">So, I decided right then, never to do it again. But, I want to be a good dog owner and can’t leave Bella’s little piles of pleasure all over the park. I’m not sure I can commit to carrying a pooper-scooper with me everywhere we go. What’s a girl to do?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I’ll tell you what: I opened my eyes and realized how much I’d been kidding myself about my plastic bag consumption. I may not take plastic bags from the grocery clerk, but I most certainly take them from the grocery shelves. You know what comes in plastic bags? Everything. Bread, buns, produce, deli meat, tortillas, cereal, marshmallows, frozen veggies, frozen fruit, Halloween candy… </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">And the grocery store is only the beginning. Since I started collecting poop bags, I’ve notice that the strangest things come in plastic bags: instructions to our new microwave, flyers on the door handle, projects coming home from school, and of course, the neighbor’s newspaper. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">My puppy is young. Just like a human baby, she poops about every three hours. That’s a lot of bags, but I haven’t run out yet. The good news is that I am now, once again, convinced that there is no excuse to take a “disposable” plastic shopping bag from the store. The bad news is that even when you cut shopping bags out of your life, there is still so much plastic sneaking in. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">So, as a people that care about the environment, our children, the future, and the example we set, what can we do? Following are a few ideas from easy to awesome:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Give your plastic bags to a neighbor with a dog so they won’t resort to “disposable” shopping bags.</li>
<li>If you have a dog, try biodegradable poop bags from Petco. (Just stole idea this off the comment below). Please post your ideas too!</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Pay attention to the (over) packaging of what you buy and use your dollars accordingly, especially if you don’t need any extra plastic bags.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Invest is a few reusable bags ($0.99 at Whole Foods) and swear off plastic grocery bags forever. It’s far more fun to be smug than sheepish. </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Write to your local elected officials and ask them to support a ban of or fee on “disposable” plastic shopping bags.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Above all, mother your Bella Blue.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7-4Swq2ku3lm8eYoPpXX5-Xf9-sLnEPPfhYUJ9W0QmbrK1LEzNVqfMTNY2S27Q_pmjaUuA_4J3NulUsiWrp7u7dIlgmsF336wSggVSPg8ZNW2eSftYVlA_DC1yEZFfgGKtWJyJBsQaC_/s1600/earth-from-space-western.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7-4Swq2ku3lm8eYoPpXX5-Xf9-sLnEPPfhYUJ9W0QmbrK1LEzNVqfMTNY2S27Q_pmjaUuA_4J3NulUsiWrp7u7dIlgmsF336wSggVSPg8ZNW2eSftYVlA_DC1yEZFfgGKtWJyJBsQaC_/s200/earth-from-space-western.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">your bella blue</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-32440500009356406692010-10-18T11:08:00.000-07:002010-10-18T11:08:52.059-07:00Inventions that BLOW!<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Brace yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Tis the season for me to go off! </div><div class="MsoNormal">Ask my family:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s Mommy’s biggest pet peeve? </div><div class="MsoNormal">Answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaf Blowers! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyone who knows me well knows that I am sometimes too logical for my own good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in this case, a little logic is needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, leaf blowers are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">almost</i> the most insane invention ever to take hold. They follow closely behind the world’s stupidest ideas: bottled water and “disposable” plastic bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See what I mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the thought of leaf blowers makes me all crazy and nasty. Sorry. I’ll try to stick to the facts:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span> </div><!--StartFragment--> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: .65in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid green 1.5pt; mso-border-insideh: cell-none; mso-border-insidev: cell-none; mso-border-top-alt: solid green 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="border-bottom: solid green 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid green 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid green .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid green 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.1in;" valign="top" width="79"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid green 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid green 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid green .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid green 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: green;">Average Rake</span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid green 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid green 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid green .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid green 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;">Average Leaf Blower</span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid green .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.1in;" valign="top" width="79"> <div class="MsoNormal">Weight</div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid green .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal">Less than 2 pounds</div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid green .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal">6-12 pounds</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.1in;" valign="top" width="79"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cost</div></td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">$10-15</div></td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">$80-$420 plus gas</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.1in;" valign="top" width="79"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Labor</div></td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Swing 1 lb back and forth until all leaves or clippings are in a pile.</div></td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Swing 10 lbs back and forth until all leaves or clippings are in a pile.</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.1in;" valign="top" width="79"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Noise Pollution</div></td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">None.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div></td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">70-75 dB (see below for how ridiculous this is.)</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="border-bottom: solid green 1.5pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.1in;" valign="top" width="79"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Air Pollution</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid green 1.5pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">None.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid green 1.5pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="148"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Equal to 80 cars! (I think we can all see how ridiculous<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this is.)</div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal">Is it me, or is it nuts to pay hundreds of dollars for a piece of carbon-pollution-generating equipment that makes a job <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more</i> difficult and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">far more</i> annoying? Like so many of the seemingly small or unimportant choices we make every day, this one is simply silly if you just stop to think about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not to mention, leaf raking is good, old fashioned, family fun. Who would want to miss this?</span><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR7q1-9gLbz3YFYa_XSt_DQh9QTOpKhsZ6KA15NBU7E6M9acq3QiRhwvQBvpKCqI7fQf3AKg7iRkVRgfb4-Y-haf8Tu2ViqEgD-oyN6Ld6cacRIpNFwQxke3Zm0A3J78T0eK-sbxA2Za_/s1600/Aug-Oct+2008+117b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR7q1-9gLbz3YFYa_XSt_DQh9QTOpKhsZ6KA15NBU7E6M9acq3QiRhwvQBvpKCqI7fQf3AKg7iRkVRgfb4-Y-haf8Tu2ViqEgD-oyN6Ld6cacRIpNFwQxke3Zm0A3J78T0eK-sbxA2Za_/s320/Aug-Oct+2008+117b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span><br />
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</div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">4 Reasons Not to Use a Leaf Blower<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">1. They pollute the air. A single gas-powered leaf blower can emit <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_187244824">as much pollution in a year as 80 cars</a></span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/conference/ei15/session5/fitz.pdf">. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">2. They're noisy. A normal decibel level, considered acceptable in residential areas, is about 60 decibels (60dB). Every increase in decibels means noise that is 10 times louder. Leaf-blowers usually generate about 70-75 dB. According to the U.S. EPA this level of noise actually <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">degrades quality of life</span> by interfering with communication and sleep, leads to reduced accuracy of work and increased levels of aggravation, which can linger hours after exposure. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">3. They worsen allergies and asthma and irritate the lungs. Because they operate at such high velocities, leaf blowers stir up the mold, allergens, and dust particles that otherwise have been tamped down with rain and decomposition. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">4. They waste gas. Rakes and even electric-lawn blowers offer a petroleum-free alternative.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">Copied from: <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/green-products-services/leaf-blowers-55102003.">thedailygreen – the consumer’s guide to the green revolution. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; padding: 0in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">Note to self (and readers):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add this website to list of favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Baby Step of the week:</b> Quit the leaf blower habit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s not quite as foolish as smoking, but it’s pretty darn stupid. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A baby step you don’t even have to take:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have people who take care of your yard, you don’t even have to take this baby step, just ask them to make the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell them that you want to be a good neighbor and don’t want to annoy others with the noise; tell them you want to save their company money in gas and equipment; tell them your kid has asthma and the leaf blowers make it worse; tell them you care about the planet. Really, who can argue with that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say whatever makes you comfortable. Just say it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ask your gardeners, your spouse and even your neighbors to can the leaf blowers starting today. Or ask yourself: why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-56203303789622044732010-10-04T22:21:00.000-07:002010-10-04T22:36:13.914-07:00This is War!<div class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">When cancer declares war on one of our people, our people declare war on cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cancer declared war on Susan G. Komen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lost her battle, but she started a war.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday, I participated in my first Race for the Cure ®.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t ready. I was ready to walk the 5k, no problem. But I wasn’t prepared to walk behind a beautiful girl no older than 13. She walked with a friend. Silently. That alone was shocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, without saying a word, the girl told me her story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On her back was a sign that said: </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I race in memory of</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Handwriting - Dakota";">My Mom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Handwriting - Dakota";">I love you and I miss you so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No, I wasn’t prepared for that. When I read that sign, the only thing that kept me from collapsing in tears was the river of pink and white t-shirts I saw walking in front of me, next to me, behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50,000 “mothers” (people who act with kindness and affection) showed up to let that kid know we care.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Every woman diagnosed with breast cancer is some mother’s child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far too often, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer is some child’s mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In 1980: Most people were embarrassed to say the word breast out loud. Insurance companies wouldn’t pay for breast reconstruction. Far too many mothers and daughters were losing their lives to breast cancer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one young mother promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything she could to help breast cancer patients.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lucky for us, that young mother, Nancy Brinker, is a genius. She didn’t reach out to doctors or CEOs or congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gathered a group of women who gathered more women who put a pink ribbon on breast cancer and changed everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They –we - our people - the “mothers” of the world - the people who act with kindness and affection – we changed everything.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We made the term breast cancer a household word not an embarrassing secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We popularized mammograms and self-exams. We made bald a badge of courage. We raised $1.5 BILLION! We forced insurance companies to pay for reconstruction. Heck, they’ve even come up with a procedure in which belly fat is used to create the new breasts! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t do that. Nancy Brinker didn’t do that. Our people did that. Together:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one conversation, one pink product purchase, and one self-exam at a time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are two kinds of signs that racers wear at Race for the Cure ®.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is “in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">memory</i> of” the loved ones that lost their battles. The other is “in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">celebration</i> of” the survivors who lived to fight another day. My sign said:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I race in CELEBRATION of<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Handwriting - Dakota";">My mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I thank you, my people, for that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">You have power beyond measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use it wisely.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-15559570040465811052010-09-28T15:11:00.000-07:002010-09-28T15:11:36.293-07:00CRYING INDIANS AND MAD MOMS<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">If you’re my age, you might have childhood memories that go something like this:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saturday night is bridge night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You love bridge night because your parents take you and your sister with them to these parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grownups sit around one or two card tables playing a game that is impossible to understand. While the cards distract the adults, you can walk right by and snag handfuls of “bridge mix” (chocolate-covered who-cares-what) from little crystal dishes found on every corner of the tables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your parents bring your pajamas because bridge usually goes late and includes several martinis for them and lots of TV and candy for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually you fall asleep in front of your friends’ TV wearing the fuzzy pink jammies with feet that will become a bunny costume for Halloween. Once the grownups have washed down the last martini, you head home.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your dad carries you to the car and carefully places you on the back dash of the Chevy Impala so that you can stretch out there to sleep. Your sister sleeps across the back seat. It’s practically bunk beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brilliant.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the way home, your dad (who always drove) pulls in to Dunkin Donuts for a large Styrofoam cup of coffee to counteract that last martini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he finishes it before getting home, he might simply toss the cup out the car window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world was huge back then and one little cup didn’t make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or did it?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It sounds absurd now, but back in the ‘70s, no one gave any of this a second thought until: the Indian got sad, the moms got mad and the word got out.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="data:image/jpg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: .5in;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R-FZsysQNw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R-FZsysQNw</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">If you recognize the story above, you probably recognize this guy too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advertising executives jammed him into our brains on Earth Day, 1971 where he has lived ever since. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “Crying Indian” came ashore in his canoe, walked up to the edge of the freeway and stared hopelessly at smokestacks and traffic as one passenger threw a bag of fast food garbage at his feet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made our moms cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made them think. And then they taught us not to litter.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Car seats existed in 1971, but none of the children whizzing by the dismayed native was in one. Then someone showed mothers that children were dying needlessly every day. Can you imagine tucking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> toddler into the back dash of a Honda? Today, carseats are an inconvenient, ugly, expensive but completely accepted fact of life. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Once I could drive myself, I didn’t hesitate to drive home from a party after uncountable beers. It never crossed my mind that I might kill myself, or someone I loved, or someone that someone else loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I can say for myself is that I was not the only one. It was considered acceptable - until it wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1980, a mom buried a child and started Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) the very next day. She has dedicated her life to making us think about the consequences of our actions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Today <o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We don’t litter. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We don’t let our children ride unrestrained. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We don’t drive drunk. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It sounds absurd now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t even think about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Today <o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We drink our coffee then throw the cup (and its plastic lid) <s>out the window</s> into a landfill. Every day.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We pay more for water than gasoline.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We use plastic grocery bags for an average of 12 minutes and leave them on the Earth forever.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It sounds absurd now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Please, t</span>hink about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-58682249829495338302010-09-24T19:58:00.000-07:002010-09-24T19:58:14.765-07:00Do Lunch Do Over<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Hmmm. I may have to rethink my suggestions about Bento Buddies and thermos’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally the day after I posted about all those expensive-but-worth-it reusable lunch items, my 9-year-old lost her lunchbox at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since it contained almost a full set of new Bento Buddies ($12) and a new thermos ($8) in an old lunchbox ($10), it was kind of frustrating when she didn’t come home with it. Needless to say, she’ll be getting lots of GladWare in her even older lunchbox the next few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still no excuse for baggies and disposable plastic bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, the missing lunchbox never showed up in the class lunch wagon or the lost and found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that because the “finder” was so in love with the colorful containers and cool Star Wars Thermos that he couldn’t bare to drop the lunchbox into the lost and found?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or could it have something to do with said 9-year-old falling in love with the cool new GoGreen bento/lunch box/whiteboard combo she saw on my blog the night before?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmmm.</div><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-58166684059430561122010-09-19T18:48:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:23:17.064-07:00LET'S DO LUNCH<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> You’re moms. So I don’t have to explain why it’s taken me so long to come up with the blog about greening our lunch boxes. You don’t need to know about how 6 in-laws were visiting while we were preparing to evacuate our house due to the Boulder Canyon wildfire. You understand. You’re busy too. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We’re all busy. That’s why products like Lunchables exist. I like to think that we’ve come a long way since the bologna on Wonder® bread, potato chips in a baggy and warm milk I had in my Snoopy lunch box. I think that Lunchables contain about the same nutritional value as my 1970s version. Unfortunately, Lunchables are packed in plastic that is wrapped in plastic then over-wrapped in plastic coated cardboard, shipped across the country and sold for about ten times the price of their old-school counterpart. But they’re quicker, easier and unfortunately, kids LOVE them. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So, while I can’t hide my feelings about Lunchables, I can remind you that this blog is not about guilt, it’s about baby steps. It’s about all of us making small changes, and convincing a friend or two to do the same. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Papyrus; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Are you willing to take a baby step this week?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Papyrus; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Step 1:</b> Instead of a prepackaged “meal” like Lunchables, pack a lunch or buy hot lunch once more per week.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Hot lunch is actually the greenest way to go. But, unless you live in Boulder or Berkeley, it may not be the healthiest. More on Boulder’s hot lunch program later.</i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></span><b>Step 2:</b> Say goodbye to juice boxes and single-use bottles: Invest in a thermos or reusable water bottle. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Step 3:</b> Replace 1-2 individually wrapped snack items (chips, goldfish, pretzels) with reusable containers (not Baggies!).</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Buying food in bigger bags (not necessarily giant bulk packages) saves money. I usually fill up several small containers with crackers and snacks at the beginning of the week so I can throw one in at the last minute.</i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></span><b>Step 4:</b> Trust your kids with flatware and cloth napkins instead of plastic forks and spoons.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Step 5 DIVE IN:</b> If you have most of these items already (and you probably do), ask yourself if you can commit to “waste free” lunches for one week. Once you’ve done it for a week…</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>RESOURCES</b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Making these changes doesn’t have to be expensive. Avoid buying new plastic if you can. If you own it and it’s safe, USE IT. If you don’t, here are some resources for buying new. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Make sure whatever you use is lead, BPA and phthalate FREE. The tag should tell you. More on the various poisons found in plastic to come. For now, trust me on this one.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">ALL of these items and so many more can be found on my new favorite site: <a href="http://www.reuseit.com/"><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Times New Roman'; text-decoration: underline;">www.reuseit.com</span></a></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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</div>1.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6F58C9taeogl-8KU4fHprAHz1oVoxE-V7gypt_P272UE4G0MtcpbK64PUJWGWVGkhKPEyCIWvqVYZEeaTctGqiJsMAAFxk4VLbBZPtqGvCWbYOpfTpZJ_iHBVdV79POJXE-Eyd-_5N9dW/s1600/CAM_04_Girls_Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6F58C9taeogl-8KU4fHprAHz1oVoxE-V7gypt_P272UE4G0MtcpbK64PUJWGWVGkhKPEyCIWvqVYZEeaTctGqiJsMAAFxk4VLbBZPtqGvCWbYOpfTpZJ_iHBVdV79POJXE-Eyd-_5N9dW/s320/CAM_04_Girls_Hero.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a> 2. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCzR18ypXm-O1LBXyNmPLgNAYk43w2Dgd3Egm6OUeJZSraL4604-Q_lyHDQ5CtI7xtfPVrnl5ajNoJeav-hf_c6TIkfTCSuhmrjXWXjPrWa21PknufjkJJdvHQ85taBDPqGkMPFGacpzx/s1600/bottles_kanteenclassic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCzR18ypXm-O1LBXyNmPLgNAYk43w2Dgd3Egm6OUeJZSraL4604-Q_lyHDQ5CtI7xtfPVrnl5ajNoJeav-hf_c6TIkfTCSuhmrjXWXjPrWa21PknufjkJJdvHQ85taBDPqGkMPFGacpzx/s1600/bottles_kanteenclassic.jpg" /></a>3. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl08YLtSZRkctiIhvNVIWPhbPde2zMOJVp9uG1Z1mdhCc8Z8bdrxxQvnEwabc1sVA8ynxTNqNMyAP2HWRmASjDS4M007HsMzvQGhqTjAzEMxKtWHvyNMTtBQs37a2CJJP1-MnGhpR9MvQ/s1600/78c9bb063f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl08YLtSZRkctiIhvNVIWPhbPde2zMOJVp9uG1Z1mdhCc8Z8bdrxxQvnEwabc1sVA8ynxTNqNMyAP2HWRmASjDS4M007HsMzvQGhqTjAzEMxKtWHvyNMTtBQs37a2CJJP1-MnGhpR9MvQ/s320/78c9bb063f.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">1. <a href="http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/bottles/kids-bottles.aspx">http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/bottles/kids-bottles.aspx</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> It’s not really a thermos, but Gracie says her Camelback bottle keeps drinks cold, even when it sits in the hot car.</span></div></span></div><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">2. We have 3 Klean Kanteen bottles. One leaks. <a href="http://www.kleankanteen.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.kleankanteen.com/</span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">3. I’m mad at Sigg because they sold us stainless steel water bottles lined with BPA, but they have since fixed the problem, and they are darn cute. (Plus mine have never leaked.) <a href="http://www.sigg.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.sigg.com/</span></a></span></div></span><br />
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</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>4. </b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2dUHeVqJrTugrzKP1kwmUYmrQ47BpUjsueEK6cZfEqF_l3Y1zKXDR0gf2GRsKk5g2uBGu99zWPnueQOuzQMRrYD8JeKoSCpU8zeoICepSFapQ_VcyUDC0D6-5cgGIhDbQoduhd9Lvnkg/s1600/promo_gladware_cont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2dUHeVqJrTugrzKP1kwmUYmrQ47BpUjsueEK6cZfEqF_l3Y1zKXDR0gf2GRsKk5g2uBGu99zWPnueQOuzQMRrYD8JeKoSCpU8zeoICepSFapQ_VcyUDC0D6-5cgGIhDbQoduhd9Lvnkg/s1600/promo_gladware_cont.jpg" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> 5.</b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yo2rniLCcbSootIKzpe0BNlnzWIS3H5ucgMpW31mX2awl2_ZAjPsTnX3fytG_2mkKLMKHYGmMklBL6W7MCcEuqQQD3ndlPiO8Pa9682EB5nmAhjgaY4VhsA060XZAQphMEWWVR5SNBwb/s1600/duo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yo2rniLCcbSootIKzpe0BNlnzWIS3H5ucgMpW31mX2awl2_ZAjPsTnX3fytG_2mkKLMKHYGmMklBL6W7MCcEuqQQD3ndlPiO8Pa9682EB5nmAhjgaY4VhsA060XZAQphMEWWVR5SNBwb/s200/duo.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> </b></span><b>6. </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZ5TqGpgLs_ktbIbEcazUUpc5JRyjnP5vZnRGpGPBb_hmXlmObzLvB2Im8LxG0mTQChq5Fx0i2jum33UOlgKCkfI7WZGoUjAR3bVlyBClK008TlHqvwxM_R9fuKFvZ0egMjztpL10vBPg/s1600/B650_LIME_100x100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZ5TqGpgLs_ktbIbEcazUUpc5JRyjnP5vZnRGpGPBb_hmXlmObzLvB2Im8LxG0mTQChq5Fx0i2jum33UOlgKCkfI7WZGoUjAR3bVlyBClK008TlHqvwxM_R9fuKFvZ0egMjztpL10vBPg/s1600/B650_LIME_100x100.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">4. Best news I’ve heard in a long time: GladWare® is BPA and phthalate free and always has been. Yes, it’s plastic (Mother Earth’s biggest pet peeve) but if you already own it, use it. Don’t throw it into the ocean only to buy more plastic. Available at Target, Wal-Mart, everywhere...</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">5. http://lunchbots.com/ Lunchbots: I don't have any of these since I still have lots of GladWare, but I like the fact that they're not plastic.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">6. Bento Buddies by Laptop lunch <a href="http://www.laptoplunches.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.laptoplunches.com</span></a>/ (Also at Whole Foods)</div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The rectangular shape makes these easier to pack than round GladWare</span>®. The little dip container makes veggies much more desirable. My friend Bevin tells me that so many little lids are hard for smaller kids-- which brings us to the next cool item. Thank you Bevin! Check out Bevin’s Blog, The Food Evangelist, for ideas about what to put in these lunches: <a href="http://bevinwallace.wordpress.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://bevinwallace.wordpress.com</span></a>/ (Note: Our blogs are not normally as similar as they are this week.)</div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">7. Bevin's Find: </span>This little bundle has the whole package - even a little whiteboard for love notes. I’m trying (really hard!) not to buy things I don’t need. Otherwise, the UPS man would be arriving in 3-5 business days... <a href="http://www.gogreenlunchbox.com/index.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.gogreenlunchbox.com/index.html</span></a> (This one is not on reuseit.com yet)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyDr2eBgV9fqxnbtW8ROtHRsFT6MbJtmq3VaYR2a8H3NGT3uT1YgRl6oyY9lgj99oY8zKJn4p1Ecc5m74-17z5x33ELa-MAufFvAEz_Zru9-NgY9aANdR75BDBt-GzPtwG0-GoQxFc_fd/s1600/new_chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyDr2eBgV9fqxnbtW8ROtHRsFT6MbJtmq3VaYR2a8H3NGT3uT1YgRl6oyY9lgj99oY8zKJn4p1Ecc5m74-17z5x33ELa-MAufFvAEz_Zru9-NgY9aANdR75BDBt-GzPtwG0-GoQxFc_fd/s320/new_chart.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">PERMISSION TO SHOP? GRANTED.</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">PLEASE POST YOUR IDEAS, PRODUCT REVIEWS AND RESOURCES BELOW!</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-31026801525946505072010-09-05T08:02:00.000-07:002010-09-05T08:02:33.278-07:00Pay Attention<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">It’s all about sustainability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you try to give up your car entirely, you probably won’t succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you try to live a plastic-free life, you definitely won’t succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like dieting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was young, I was always trying to lose that extra 5 pounds. Okay 20 pounds. Whatever. I tried many extreme measures: hating myself, living on grapefruit or sauerkraut, giving half my paycheck to a gym for access to a class I hated. Ask my college roommate how the sauerkraut diet turned out. Eesh! None of it worked.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I got pregnant with my first child, everything changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I educated myself about what I was eating and what I should be eating. I took the time to create healthy meals and made sure I was getting enough protein, vitamins, fiber and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I cared.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I gained 50 pounds when I was pregnant, but I never loved my body more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This body that I had all along could make a baby! It’s a miracle machine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you not respect a body that can do that? Once I fell in love with my body, even my 50-pounds-bigger-than-usual body, the rest was easy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I never dieted again. I remembered to take vitamins more often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ate more whole grains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took the stairs instead of the elevator. I began to mother myself: I looked after my body “kindly and protectively, with care and affection.” Remember, that’s the definition of mothering. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gained 50 pounds when I was pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost 60 – one small choice at a time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The point is that starving yourself doesn’t work. Swearing off plastic or driving isn’t sustainable. Baby steps work. Caring works. Mothering works.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Baby step of the week:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pay attention. Notice the cool, crisp fall air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about how lucky we are that ours is the planet with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blue</i> sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smell the grass. Doesn’t the green go so nicely with the blue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re lucky enough to live near the ocean, get in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your lucky enough to live near the mountains, hike up. Look at your child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to her breathe.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve been reminded that this planet of ours is a miracle machine too, pay attention to the choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t do the guilt thing. Pay attention to other people’s choices. (Trust me, it’s easier this way.) Stand behind the row of cash registers at Safeway and notice the carts full of single use plastic bags going out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linger on the front lawn of your kids’ school and notice how many kids are being dropped off in cars or notice the cars on the road with only one person inside. Notice the water delivered in plastic instead of pipes. Notice the coffee in cups that will never be used again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard not to pay attention to your own choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s because you’re a mother and you care. </div><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-24949833558146871812010-08-29T15:19:00.000-07:002010-08-29T15:19:09.781-07:00"Mother Earth"<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">My blog is titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mother Earth</i>, but I’m not a big fan of the term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a little too <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">granola</i> for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m more flip-flops than Birkenstocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am a big fan of Earth. I’m super fond of mothers too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a mother. I have a wonderful mother. Most of my best friends are mothers. Many of my favorite people (men and women) while not technically mothers are mothers in spirit. Whether you are a mother by definition or by nature, this probably defines your daily actions:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Semibold"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Baskerville Semibold";">mother: verb [ trans. ]<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Semibold"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Baskerville Semibold";">1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">to</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Semibold"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Baskerville Semibold";">look after kindly and protectively, with care and affection<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If that’s what it means to mother, being called a mother is a pretty nice compliment. (Unless someone is yelling at you in traffic. That’s a different kind of mother. Ignore that person.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I started to think of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mother</i> as a verb rather than a noun, the term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mother earth</i> took on a whole new meaning for me. I realized it’s not necessarily a name. It’s a request, a command, a call to action. What if we look after the earth kindly and protectively, with care and affection? We can do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re mothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s what we do best. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve heard the term Eco-Nazi. I am sooooooo NOT that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said, more flip-flops than Birkenstocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I believe that mothers are quite possibly the solution to the environmental problems of the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have enormous power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we can make a HUGE impact - one water bottle, one reusable shopping bag, one dollar, one decision at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I promise: </span>I’m not going to ask you to change your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to ask you to change the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start by asking yourself this simple question:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What if we mother Earth?</div><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303826233984934815.post-45223397935386524492010-08-24T18:49:00.000-07:002010-09-28T19:21:27.952-07:00You Are My People<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> Fill in the blank: I am a ________. Did you say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mother</i>? Or was it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">woman</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jew</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tax accountant</i>? For a lot of us, I think the first word that comes to mind is mother. I am a woman. It’s what I am. I am a writer. That’s what I do. But a mother is what I am and what I do. It’s not the only thing, but it’s everything.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I am also a white, sort of Protestant, middle-aged, American woman. Unfortunately, that often leaves me feeling like I am nothing - not without value but without people. I’ve always been attracted to Catholicism and Judaism because I like the traditions and rules. It seems like everyone at the service knows exactly what to do no matter how complicated the ritual or prayer. They belong. I think my husband’s Jewish heritage was one of the first things that attracted me, but we are not Jewish. We light candles every night of Hanukah, but my kids think kosher is a flavor of pickle.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I find myself jealous of black women in that I’d like to consider my girlfriends <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sisters</i>. If I called my best friend “Sister,” she’d think I’ve lost it. Still, I try. I give friends nicknames. It’s my way of saying: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You belong with me. You are part of my club.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I know you.</i> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> In Hawaii where we spend much of our summer, the local kids call their adult friends Auntie and Uncle no matter if they are related or not. I like it. We tried it when our kids were little. My girls still refer to a few of our old friends as Uncle Dan and Uncle Dave. When Uncle Dave started dating and eventually married Sharon, she didn’t appreciate being called “Uncle Sharon” so that kind of went out the window. What?! I didn’t make it up. My kids were little. They thought: Uncle goes with Uncle. Plus, it was funny. I still think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uncle Sharon</i> is a term of endearment.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The truth is that I’ve always wanted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people</i>: a group that is special, that a person is part of simply based on who or what she is. None of my groups (white, American, middle-aged) really gave me that feeling of connection – until I became a mom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> When you are a mom, you are part of a society. You can say things like, “It’s a mom thing,” or “You’re a mom. You understand.” You have each other’s back. You get it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I read in a parenting magazine that we should teach our children to go to a mom with kids when they are lost in an airport or shopping mall. It’s like saying, “These are our people. They are safe. They will always help you.” And it’s true. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I reviewed that lesson right as we arrived at Sea World a few years ago. Less than an hour later, we noticed that my then 6-year-old daughter Emma was missing. And I mean really missing, not just 10 feet away out of sight. My husband ran back to the sea lion exhibit and found her while I searched the line at the dolphin show literally dialing 9-1-1. By the time Brad got to Emma, a mom with kids had found her crying and clearly lost. The mom gave her a tray of sardines to feed the sea lions and stayed with Emma until we got there. When I arrived, I hugged that woman until we were both sobbing. It doesn’t matter if she was black, or Jewish, or a tax accountant. She was a stranger. She was my sister. She was a mother. She is one of my people. And so are you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13